..you are your own hero..

Photo credits to Fr. Norbert Alvin Canada

It's redundant for me to say that I love my night shifts duty. It's the best time for me to make bonds with my work mates..getting to know them better and listen to their stories. This blogsite, when I decided to finally join the world of blogs had encouraged me not only to share my own stories but that of the people I have encountered with. As what my mentor said, storytelling is a form of ministry. Because you never know that one story could change the world.

For that matter, I wanted to feature another set of people here in my third place. This is just one of the articles I'll be publishing as Chameleon will celebrate its first year anniversary! yipeee=)

The best time of the month for us singles is Pay Day. That's needless to elaborate. Time to give ourselves some little pampering, feeding your vanity if ever you have one. We all our own set of obligations to the people that we love. Silently as I am enjoying that "highlight" of the month, there are other people who have there own set of sacrifices. Ate Ellen, our hippy and bubbly mother-figure,  is one of them. As for the record, she hasn't been home for the last five years. Hasn't attended five birthdays of her two sons, haven't been there in their five Christmas and summers. The sick days of her Josh when she's so busy attending our sick patients or the times Aidan got high grades and mom is not around to give him a pat on the back or that cheerful mommy-hug. The countless times she wished her sons were also eating in Jollibee whenever she step foot on the food store. Whenever she would say how she missed her boys and is helpless anyway. Because the reality of life strikes hard. I cannot fathom where she is getting the strength to endure the long years of not being there as a mom; as a wife. Where she is getting the patience to wait for the sun to rise and the moon to set  to call it another day. Hoping that it would turn faster to weeks, then to months and months to years until finally she will utter the words "I'm home". 

I can relate to her children's situation  since I was once an OFW's daughter. The motherless years are indeed the painful years. But As I look back, those were the most bravest years of my life. I can relate to her situation, because it's not easy to leave people behind. And in return, I guess, that the years mothers are not with their kids are also the most hardest years of their lives. But this is life. We live between the tension of two opposites. Whatever side we have chosen, it's always for the greater good.. in the name of Sacrifice..in the name of Service..in the name of Family..in the name of Love.

This blog would like to honor all of you who are in the same situation. Be it for someone who was left behind, who left a love one, who dared to go out of their comfort zones and fearlessly facing the reality of life. To give credits to all of you who are denying what is due for yourself for the sake of your family and the people who put their trust in you. To boost your courage that the true warrior is someone who possess weaknesses in the face of becoming a better person but chooses not to dwell on them but on his strengths to become the best. I would like to commend your strengths, your determination and perseverance, your  sacrifices and endurance wherever it is coming from. 

We all have our own anticipated heroes.You might not be in sword or under an armor.  But your heart, your character, your inner light are your strongest weapons. That's enough to say that at some point in your life, you are your own anticipated hero.